Moradabad, 22 December: The survey of the four-member team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh continued for the third consecutive day on Sunday.
The ASI team from Lucknow started digging again in the ancient step well of Chandausi tehsil this morning in the presence of District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, which continued till evening.
During this, the survey team has found four rooms. The team had surveyed six pilgrimage sites and 19 wells in Sambhal on Friday and Saturday.
Under the leadership of the ASI team, two JCBs and many laborers are digging the step well in the ancient step well of Chandausi on Sunday. Four rooms have been found during the excavation.
It is being told that this is a three-storey step well. The step well is said to be from 1857 or earlier. It is a part of the kingdom of Queen Surendra Bala Devi of Raja Ka Sahaspur. Also, 12 rooms, a well and a tunnel are also being reported inside it. At present, four rooms are clearly visible in the two-day excavation.
During this, District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and Superintendent of Police Krishna Vishnoi were present on the spot.
The ASI team had taken samples for carbon dating of the ancient Shiva temple located at Khaggu Sarai and the well built in the premises there on Friday. After this, the team reached the ancient Kalki Vishnu temple on Saturday and stayed there for about 30 minutes and examined every point closely and collected evidence.
The team also got photography and videography done to find out the historicity of the dome and other structures here. During the encroachment campaign conducted in the district recently, Shiva temples and closed wells were found in Muslim-dominated areas.
After finding a 46-year-old temple in Sambhal, District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya had written a letter to the Archaeological Survey of India for investigation and demanded inspection of the ancient pilgrimage sites and wells of the district.
SDM Vandana Mishra had said that the team is trying to find out the period of the temple and the well. During the inspection, the team of experts photographed and videographed the dome and other structures to ascertain their historicity.
